Chapter 21 – The Hero

000

“───San…?”

Tea, who had just returned from a request, was a bit nervous. When the young man turns his head to the voice that speaks to him.

There stood a boy and a girl who, at first glance, seemed to have just become adventurers, ignorant of either front or back.

The boy had blonde hair by the wall. At his waist he wore a small sword that suited his physique. What he wears is light armor. He doesn’t look very good.

In the eyes, curiosity about seniors and a sense of goodwill. And there was a light full of hope. Those eyes are like the color of the clear and transparent sky.

He always thought it was a little dazzling for a young man walking in the shadows.

At the same time, the girl Emerald hair, sapphire eyes. She was a girl with kind eyes. He’s probably a little younger than a young man, like a boy.

However, perhaps a little precocious, his height was equal to or taller than the boy. In the eyes looking at the young man, unlike the boy, there was a little bit of fear.

This would be a normal reaction. I was rather used to this kind of gaze, so I thought there was no need to worry too much.

The young man asked the two of them what they were doing. I’m worried that his voice wasn’t a little cold even to think of himself.

The boy didn’t seem to care at all.

“I asked the guild guide noona. I heard that you are the strongest among the single adventurers in this guild!”

-So?

So, she had to ask without realizing it.

Since ancient times- adventurers are those who do business with ‘confidence’, ‘skills’ and ‘luck’.

Occasionally, newcomers who don’t care about their lives quickly make their name known to the guild.

There were guys who tried to fight the senior adventurer and defeat him.

Just in case. If the boy in front of you was talking to you for that purpose—

How do I make you give up The young man had no choice but to think about the answer.

“Please organize a party with us!”

—But. The story from the boy was different. The recruiting activity that I was supposed to do.

The young man smiled wryly and explained why he was working alone.

He himself is a magic swordsman, and is hated by others because of that characteristic. He wouldn’t be a good fit for a group adventure.

But the boy shook his head.

“It’s okay! Me and this guy will do our best to support you!”

This guy must be the girl standing next to him. Seeing that he has a staff strapped to his back, is he a wizard—no, a priest?

When asked why it was him, the boy replied as if it were natural.

“We all want to have an adventure so great that we can save the world someday.”

At that, the girl blushed and turned her head. It was an embarrassing line, the young man thought. However, I didn’t hate it.

“Because you need a ‘strong party’ to have a great adventure… It’s only natural to party with the strongest person!”

Simple answer. There is no fallacy in logic—thought Cleon. Of course. There was no doubt that it was still a simple way of thinking like a child.

The young man saw the light of a boy and a girl. I didn’t know which direction the light was pointing and shining.

But——for myself walking in the shadows. The light felt warm.

It was always the light that I longed for somewhere in my heart.

001

“Haa… Haa… ─Haa!”

Rough breathing. Great fusion. A large action slash that was swung along with him. Alvein’s holy sword strikes in the same trajectory as the rim of the crescent moon.

Cleon stood still, holding Galatea with only one hand from earlier. Alvein’s attack, one sum. Two sums. Were blocked in turn.

Alvein wondered if the liquid flowing through his body was sweat. I don’t even know if it’s rainwater. He was attacking Cleon while consuming his stamina.

But- what about the person in front of you?

The same expression as before. There is no obstruction of breathing. Even after saving Sasha. After standing in front of him and pulling out the demonic sword.

Even once, the soles of the feet that held the center of gravity do not leave the ground.

Alvein steps back once. After looking into the distance for a bit, he digs into Cleon’s left flank.

Accelerate your body quickly. Before Cleon’s arm even moved. If you try to slash it from the back-

Cleon lightly rotates Galatea in her hand, grabs it in reverse and lifts it behind her back.

Caan-! With a metallic sound that hurts your ears. Albain’s sword was blocked.

“Damn it…! What happened…!”

Alvein chews his lips enough to bleed. Even so, blocked attacks did not work again.

If so – like this.

“St. Burr-“

“Flame Burst.”

Quaang-! With a shout. An explosion of flame rose from Cleon.

The storm generated by the magical power of the flames blows away Alvein with the heat.

Rolling on the ground, crashing into rubble. He was fortunate enough to survive with the divine magic that was wrapped around his body.

However. As if there was no shock from the collision, blood was flowing from the mouth.

“That magic… Lila’s…”

Alvein knows the magic from before. If you accidentally spill a monster to the back.

Lila’s annoyance rises. Magic used to explode anger, as if wiping out the surrounding area when it reached its peak.

How many. I remember that Cleon warned me about party members getting caught up in it, and after that, I refrained from using it while grumbling.

His own technique, ‘Saint Burst’, was also inspired by Layla’s.

Layla herself, whether or not she knew that fact, had made a trustworthy request to Albain saying, ‘Don’t use it because it’s trash’, but—

Unlike ‘Divine Magic’, which has almost no physical substance, ‘Flame Magic’ itself carries the risk of high fever. Obviously, there was a difference in its power.

—But. The important thing is not that.

Anyway, Cleon, the magic swordsman. Is it possible to use this magic, which is an intermediate magic located between 2nd and 3rd tiers, with a no chant.

This is like Isn’t Layla’s level of skill?

Thinking that far, Alvein covered his mouth. Even though the blood is thickly smeared on my hands.

The source of Cleon’s power that he recalled—

“I see… You, you violated Layla and stole her power…!”

At those words, Cleon’s eyebrows twitched.

Did you take that as a positive? Alvein twisted the corners of his mouth and stood up from his seat.

“Haha…! As expected! There’s a reason why a scumbag like you became so strong! Quondo, Sasha, and Layla too. They all violated and took away their power!”

Alvein shouted while pointing at Cleon as if he had grabbed his tail. Now that I know that my opponent is using a cowardly move. Justice is in you.

It was an unsightly clown who had fallen into such an illusion.

“Wrong!”

And, a voice telling the clown the truth. Following Cleon’s words, it was ‘Sasha’ who was watching from the side without touching him.

Sasha put her hands together in front of her chest. Continue talking to Alvein.

“…Cleon-san didn’t steal his power from us. …He borrowed it from us, after all.”

“…Are you also brainwashed by this guy for being violated once…! Magic swordsmen are a tribe that corrupts and dominates people!”

Let Alban say so. Sasha shook her head sadly. And then, on your heart. He put his hand on his left chest.

“…The magic swordsmen that Mr. Alvein is talking about must exist in this world. But, Mr. Cleon is different.”

If you let your magic power flow over your chest. A purple pattern that can be seen even on the clothes you are wearing comes to mind.

It was the ‘imprint’ that Cleon had engraved on her.

“Look at that! That’s the hallmark of dominance! You’re being used by this guy!Haha!!”

Alvein laughs and jokes like he’s not good enough. However. Sasha denies even that.

“I. I became Mr. Cleon’s because I wanted it.”

“—Haha——… What?”

Albein is speechless at Sasha’s answer. Sasha looked at Albein for a while, then shifted her gaze to Cleon.

“Mr. Alvein hates the weak. But, everyone lives with weakness.”

“And then, deny fear. As a hero, there is no such thing as fear.”

“But… Even so. Mr. Cleon doesn’t hate the ‘weak’. He doesn’t deny ‘fear’ either.”

“I decided to entrust myself to Mr. Cleon, who is weak and timid and doesn’t deny himself.”

“And, I’ll be by his side too. To keep him from falling completely into evil…”

Every word from Sasha. It echoes between Alvein and Cleon.

It seemed that Albain didn’t want to hear her voice her like that. I cover my ears A voice that seemed to hit the soul, it was just painful.

What do you know! Is there no human being who can understand the hero himself?

A hollow cry echoed around.

“Do you feel like the protagonist of a tragedy? Alvein.”

A question from Cleon to Albain. Alvein slowly removed his hand from his ear and glared at Cleon.

“But it’s too bad. You’re not the main character. You’re the villain.”

“Shut up! The main character of this adventure is me! Magic swordsman… Don’t preach to me, a warrior! If you don’t use the power of another guy, you can’t win against me!”

Alvein grabbed the Holy Sword once again and charged Cleon. Despite the slippery floor, keep your knees strong and-

Leap into the sky. Alvein’s swordsmanship, which puts his own weight on the holy sword and cuts monsters in one fell swoop.

“A fool.”

However. Cleon looked up at Alvein for a moment. I reached out my hand to him who couldn’t take an evasive stance in the air.

And black lightning appearing from the fingertips. ‘Mana Shock’. If it was on the ground, I could have avoided or blocked it enough.

As long as humans don’t use ‘magic’. You cannot move your body in the air.

A blow that cut through the air hit Alvein’s body.

-002

“Wow!”

With the sound of heavy trees hitting each other. Two or three times. A boy rolling on the ground.

The young man sighed, “Whoa-“. I straightened up and looked down at the boy.

Then she gets closer and holds out her hand to the boy.

“Where did you learn that? That fancy swordsmanship.”

He probably didn’t mean to be sarcastic, but as a result, the young man’s words hurt the boy’s pride a little.

The boy makes a noise … But he soon scratches his head as if he is ashamed.

“In the story of the hero I saw before… I flew through the sky with this blow and stuck the holy sword into the dragon’s head…”

“Ah. That’s right. I’ve read it before too.”

The young man smiles as if he remembered. Even so, the story continued to be properly trained.

“It might be okay if you’re dealing with dull and low-intelligence monsters, but you shouldn’t use it against people with high intelligence like thieves or demons who use magic.”

“Eh-?”

I can’t-! On the head of the boy grabbing the head, barrel. And raises the wooden sword.

“And. Larger movements than necessary are prohibited even on the ground. There are too many gaps, and the trajectory of the attack can be read.”

“Yeah-. Oh, come to think of it, where did you learn your brother’s swordsmanship? Rather than an adventurer, he looks like a soldier.”

While saying that, the boy who was trying to stand up limped on one leg.

“Uh?”

It’s his own body his, but a boy looking down as if it’s strange. The young man shakes his head as he touches the boy’s knee.

“Ah- you took the fall properly when you fell. Doesn’t it hurt?”

“Yeah, it doesn’t hurt.”

“Awesome…! Uh-ee!”

A young man who pats the boy on the shoulder and calls out to the girl. The girl said ‘yes, yes’ and rushed this way.

Place your hand on the boy’s lap.

“O Divine Spirit, who always protects us. May new flesh and bones grow under your protection…”

Let’s recite the prayer, a healing spell that is activated. Even though he is still young, the girl’s spell, a great healer for one person, quickly heals the boy’s knee.

The boy looks at the knee in wonder, jumps in place, and shows the young man that he has been cured.

“Okay! Next!”

“Before that, I should properly say ‘thank you’.”

“Okay, it’s okay.”

The young man looked down at the girl. Quietly stroking her hair the girl blushed as if she was embarrassed.

The boy, ignited with the desire to practice swordsmanship, wields a wooden sword and pesters the young man.

─Have you started working with them? It was at the point where six months had passed.

003

“Swordsmanship that was at a usable level. Having obtained the power of the Holy Sword, he became confident. As if he had forgotten what he had learned while sparring with me. Reckless. He swung his sword without moderation.”

Cleon looked down at Alvein who had fallen on the ground and talked.

What kind of emotion did his facial expression show? To the point of not being able to read it. She seemed indifferent.

He was just chewing on the fact that this ‘hero’ in front of him was much weaker than himself.

“Shut up…”

Alvein was struggling to get up somehow, unable to keep his stance his as the shock running through his body his had not yet subsided.

“The power of mana shock isn’t that strong. It just shorts the magic control system a little and paralyzes the body. If you’d learned a self-healing spell like Quon said, you could have recovered and woke up on your own .”

“Shut up…!”

Grab the ground with your trembling arms and hands. I somehow raised my upper body and looked at Cleon.

“What’s wrong? Have you already used stronger up all your acquired skills and abilities? Only then will you be during your swordsman days.”

“Shut up you son of a bitch!!”

The moment the paralysis is lifted. Alvein’s body bounces. When the sword is swung from bottom to top. Cleon used his magic sword to deflect it. Widen the distance

Alvein didn’t go after Cleon. I managed to catch my breath somehow, holding the sword with both hands while pointing it upwards and drawing it to my chest.

“Whoa-“

Take a deep breath. Although he still had a lot of gaps, Cleon watched the scene for a while.

What Albain was doing was capturing. He Concentrates the divine magic that spreads throughout the body and protects the body, and pours it into the holy sword.

Then, his golden holy sword his gradually increased its brightness. Before long, a blade made of magic manifested itself.

“…—”

Cleon looked at them without saying anything. Alvein thought Cleon was overwhelmed. Raise the tail of the mouth.

“I couldn’t see any of you… The most powerful technique I possess… I thought that using this technique was for my nemesis in life.

Little by little, the blades of light are becoming larger as they contain magical energy. Eventually, the length grows to the point of jumping over a building.

“This is… The warrior’s sword to destroy evil.”

Like talking to the devil. Alvein opened his mouth quietly. His eyes. Unlike him before, he was full of confidence.

The magic power poured into the holy sword. Despair, sadness, or anger were forcibly erased from him.

Did that really have a good influence on him? Cleon didn’t know.

And. Soon, Alvein’s sword was swung. As if cutting the horizon. If you move the giant sword horizontally –

Seeing it, Alvein’s holy sword cut through Sasha’s head as she quickly leaned down.

Before long, it flew towards Cleon’s body, which was standing still.

“Cheongbung defeat-!”

At the same time as Alvein’s cry. Cleon listens to Galatea. Take it to the blade OK-

Overlaid on Galatea’s blade. Black magic. Let’s collide with the holy magic of Alvein’s huge sword.

Like cutting butter with a heated knife.

That part is cut off, and the magical blade is cut in two.

“—What?”

Magical power that oxidizes and disperses into the air. Cleon stands still. As if brushing off the remnants of magical power on the sword. Once, swinging a sword. I looked at Alban.

“Is that your strength?”

“Muh, what. What did you do?”

“——I did the same thing as you did.”

After a moment of silence, Albane staggers at Cleon’s words. Did you do the same thing as yourself? By injecting mana into the sword, a slashing attack that has been trained to the extreme…?

However, it was too small for that. Cleon’s blade. The size of the blade is the size of the amount of magic power. Naturally, it was normal when the side with more magic power overpowered the side with less.

“Of course, you had more magical power. However, contrary to what you were widely convinced of, I just put my magic power into a narrower range.”

“No- what… To do something like that, you have to be more skilled at controlling magic than Lyla! You’re like that— is that possible?”

“It’s not me. My sword did it.”

“──”

The sword’s will. Galatea isn’t even a shaman, but she can control her magical powers similarly. That too, in human form- even in the double body.

So that. In the state of a sword, even mana control, which requires extreme difficulty. It is simply to do it.

Realizing that his fatal blow had been blocked in vain, Alvein looked down at his holy sword.

“..Haha…”

And, as if he had given up on everything, he smiled. The body slowly fell forward.

Recoil from using all the mana… And exhaustion.

Now I need to finish slowly. Looking at Alvein, Cleon put strength into his hands.

-004

“The Holy Sword’s… Oracle?”

Adventurer’s Guild’s resting place. The boy and the young man tilt their heads at the story the girl brought out.

Apparently, the girl received an oracle about where the ‘sacred sword’was hidden in her dream her last night.

From within that oracle, the boy pulled out the holy sword.

This act will eventually It is said that she even received a prophecy that she would save the world.

“…”

A boy who can’t easily shut up the story of that tremendous story.

And, the girl who looks at the boy with worried eyes.

“…Hey! That’s amazing!”

And, the happiest young man.

The young man pats the boy on the back. It was the first time I’d seen him so happy.

The eyes of the people around him are focused on him.

“Being chosen by the Holy Sword… Means becoming a hero!”

It’s natural. A story like a dream. The boy looked back and forth between the girl and the young man for a moment, then pointed at himself with her finger as if to say, ‘Me?’

“Yes! And, you too. That you are favored by the gods to the extent that you receive an oracle.”

A young man who speaks as if he admired the girl. He puts his hand on both of their shoulders and smiles.

“—Really, you might be able to save the world. You two.”

“We… The world…”

The boy looked down at his hands and clenched his fists. And look up at the young man. I’ve almost caught up with my height now. The boy had a lot to learn from the young man.

“Be confident. This is definitely destiny.”

The young man nodded as if he had read the boy’s intentions his. He told the girl to listen to the oracle.

“The place where the holy sword is located is an ancient ruin located in the south of the city. It is said that it is guarded by a powerful guardian. There are many traps in the middle.”

“If it’s an ancient ruin, it’s a dark place. I’ll have to bring enough lighting.”

“…Can we do it?”

To the girl who asked anxiously, the young man answered.

“Of course. Adventure is like a card game—”

“It came out.”

Let the boy smile and look at the young man. The young man continues to talk about not caring.

“Hey. Listen carefully. Say it several times and engrave it in your heart.”

Then, the boy spoke on behalf of the young man.

“Prepare for what will happen, and play the most suitable card. By repeating this, the adventure will lead to success.”

005

Alvein stood up. Already, he was unconscious to him.

As Cleon tried to finish him off, he grabbed the sword with both hands at the strange flow of magic that appeared from Alvein’s sword.

Holy Sword – Golden Holy Sword.

According to legend. This is an item inhabited by an “Angel” Sent by God to earth.

An angel loses his body in the war. He is said to have put himself in the sword.

That is. The beginning of the legend of all holy swords and warriors.

It was a cliché, but it was the root of the most plausible story.

Cleondo and Alveindo. The fact was treated as a ‘legend’ and was not believed.

Galatea vibrates. It was different from what usually appeared when he was dissatisfied with Cleon’s behavior of her.

It seemed to resonate.

Above Alvein’s head, a contorted circle of holy magic appeared.

The magical tunnel protruding from the holy sword pierced through Alvein’s body his. Force your body to move. Inject divine magic.

“—Galatea. This is-“

[Right. What I talked about The reason why a hero can ‘surely’ save the world.]

──The legend of many heroes. The hero disappears with the world’s evil. The world will end with the return of peace.

It is—actually. The last of the last due to the lack of their strength in the battle of the warriors. Even if you get knocked down by the enemy.

The Holy Sword remains. Continues its role.

The angelic soul that dwelled in the holy sword forcibly grabbed the hero’s body. Assimilate with yourself

Although the human body cannot withstand the soul of an angel—even for a short time, it is incomparable to what a hero can produce—

Possess great power. Just moving to destroy the ‘evil’ in front of my eyes.

Self-destruct weapon.

That is. Is a warrior

Even as Cleon watched, Alvein’s appearance gradually changed.

Receiving an angel’s soul into a body. Halo changes like a crown of thorns. On its back spread eight wings made of divine magic.

Grabbing the clouds in the sky and tearing them apart, the heavenly light came down and covered Albain’s body.

When I heard about this phenomenon from Galatea. Cleon’s greatest difficulty in revenge against Alvein is. I kept thinking about this part.

Because getting caught up in his own revenge and blowing up a city would be a complete turnaround.

However, Galatea whispered ‘measures’ for such a master.

Cleon took out the core of the sword from his chest. Could he have sensed his own people his running amok nearby?

The core of the sword charged with magical power and activated. Like Galatea, it resonated with Alvein’s holy sword.

[NRJIG NGJJH YSGDD]

Unknown language. Could it be his voice that came out of Albain’s mouth his? Or is it the voice of an angel?

Looking at Alvein, who seemed to have already ceased to be human, Cleon slowly approached Alvein with the core of the sword.

If the divine magical power flowing from Alvein’s body, the aftermath alone would cut away the rubble around him. Of course, there was no way Cleon’s body was safe.

Gradually. Gradually. Every time you get close. A torrent of sharp, hostile magic power that cuts through the skin of the entire body.

“Miss Cleon!”

To Sasha, who looked at that figure from behind and shouted. Cleon quietly raised his hand. Reassure

[Cleon … Listen to her real voice her, not the voice of an angel who became a weapon.]

Voice of Galatea. Cleon listens to her and reads her will her in her magic her.

[—Help, give—]

——A voice that was neither Alvein’s nor Galatea’s. It was clearly audible.

Cleon raised her whole body to the limit of his magical power. She covers her body her with him.

Like, black armor. His extremely compressed magic power her burns white above his eyes her.

Eventually, the core of the sword. It touches Alvein’s holy sword. Layla must have talked about the nuclear activation keyword.

That word- the name of the holy sword that must be stopped- even Alvein didn’t know-

“Caliburn-!”

Pillar of light. From that spot, it soared as if it pierced the sky.

At the terrifying sound, Cleon felt blood flow from his ears her, which he had been blocking with his magical powers her.

The condensed holy magic stops operating on the spot, loses its center, and oxidizes.

The open dark cloud. The gap was slowly widening.

──In the sky. The shattered divine magic falls like pollen.

This one glows golden. —If it was originally. The power to protect people.

Unlike before, which was driven by malice. Now it’s harmless The whole city- No, even if it falls in this area, there will be no problem.

The black magic that enveloped Cleon’s body disappeared. With wounds all over the body her. Cleon takes a deep breath.

And. Looking at Alvein, who was completely collapsed on the ground, he swung Galatea and struck down the holy sword.

—That’s it.

The Holy Sword is broken.